Astilba America: variety description and characteristics, planting and care rules, reproduction

Astilbe grows well in full sun. Its above-ground stems die off in the fall, but with the first spring warmth, the root system, which easily tolerates a frosty winter, quickly produces fresh shoots, and in summer astilbe, just like in America, grows and blooms profusely. Its stems grow to a height of 60-90 centimeters, can be up to 2 meters. The plant belongs to the ornamental, perfectly decorates summer cottages.

History of selection

Scientists from different countries took part in the selection of astilba. A botanist from France - E. Le-moine, created several varieties that received his name.By the name of the German botanist - G. Arende, Arends' astilba is named. He devoted most of his life to the breeding and selection of this amazing plant, brought out astilbes with inflorescences of pink and bright red hues.

Need to know! Today, selection continues, more and more new hybrids are being developed.

Description and characteristics of culture

Shrub plant is distinguished by pinnate and carved leaves of a dull, matte shade. Some varieties have glossy foliage. The main color of the leaves is dark green, but there are many varieties of the plant, and in many the foliage has a red tint, in some species the jagged edges of the leaves are outlined with a white border. Foliage grows densely on long, strong petioles of a reddish hue.

External Description

In a perennial plant, erect stems die off for the winter, but the root system continues to develop and live in winter frosts. The density of the stems differs by flower varieties - it can be loose, but most often the stems are dense, woody.

Plant varieties differ in stem height - from 10 centimeters to 2 meters. In dwarf species, the length of the stem does not exceed 30 centimeters. In tall species, stems grow up to 2 meters.

Bush

Bushes in different species are compact, but most often they are sprawling, carved foliage gives the shrub showiness even without flowers.

Flowering

The color of astilba flowers depends on the species. Gardens are decorated with pink, purple, white, light lilac, red flowers. The inflorescences are collected in brushes and look like openwork panicles. The shape of the inflorescences is pyramidal, diamond-shaped, drooping.

Root system

Rhizome, due to the fact that the plant is perennial, is characterized by high density, branching. Fresh root buds form on superficial roots by spring, the lower ends of the deep rhizome die off on their own, they do not need to be cut off during transplantation.

Frost and drought tolerance

The onset of autumn cold does not frighten the plant. It ceases to bloom, the stems with color must be cut off in a timely manner with secateurs. But until winter, the plant decorates the garden with carved fluffy foliage. It is necessary to cut off the stems withered with frost with the advent of a real cold snap. After pruning, the shrub should be spudded with dry soil, forming mounds 3-4 centimeters in height.

Astilbes are highly resistant to frost, tolerate freezing of the ground down to -23 ºC, with external cold down to -37 ºC. Saves the plant from freezing and a layer of snow, and mulching after pruning. Caring summer residents cover astilba bushes with spruce branches for the winter. Hardiness zone: Moscow region, northern regions of Russia and Scandinavian mountains.

Astilba should be watered abundantly - it does not tolerate dry summers well. The soil must be constantly kept slightly moist.The lack of moisture negatively affects flowering, the general condition of the plant. Astilba should be watered every day, in a dry season - twice: in the morning and at night.

Pay attention! Astilba is frost-resistant, but does not tolerate drought.

Susceptibility to diseases and parasites

Astilba America is disease and pest resistant. Only under conditions of insufficient care is it susceptible to root rot, spotting of the outer bush of a bacterial nature and phytoplasmic diseases of viral origin.

A sick bush can be revived: they dig it up, cut off rotten areas, diseased stems and leaves. Then the roots are placed in a weak solution of manganese or fungicide. After keeping the root system in the medicine for some time, the plant is transplanted to a new place, the soil infected with rot is poured with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate, and left without planting anything in this place for a long time.

Bacterial blotch disease is manifested by the appearance of black spots on the leaves, from which the plant fades. Destroy bacteria by treating the bushes with preparations containing copper. The causative agents of viral diseases can enter the plant along with the brought soil or when infected planting material is purchased. Viral diseases on plants are not curable.

Astilba pests:

slobbering pennies;
small cicadas;
gall and strawberry nematodes.

The plant is saved from pennits and cicadas by treatment with Rotor, Aktara, Confidor. From nematodes, and this is a type of helminthic invasion, it is difficult to get rid of the earth: it is necessary to completely remove the diseased plant, burn it on the spot.

Attention! Other crops should not be planted on contaminated soil for a couple of years.

Advantages of landscape design

Astilbe America - a plant in demand in landscaping. It is planted in monogroups so that they set off other shrubs with their colors. One astilbe bush looks elegant against the backdrop of conifers. The best place for astilba is partial shade near artificial reservoirs. This shrub well sets off many garden plants, their best neighbors are ferns, irises, hostas, geykhera, bergenia, geraniums.

Astilba is in perfect harmony with bluebells, phlox, iberis, bathing suit. Creates an excellent background for low perennials: claret, saxifrage, tenacity. Astilbe forms a beautiful border, which also does not require much maintenance.

How to plant a plant

The soil is required sour, with a pH content in the range of 5.5-6.6. Neighbors such as hosts help keep the soil moist, protect the exposed roots of the astilba from overheating in the summer heat with dense foliage.Since astilba bushes need constant moisture, it is best to plant them near the water. If it is not possible to regularly water the shrub, it is necessary to plant astilbe in the shade, ensure that the soil near the root system is mulched with sawdust, caked hay, peat.

We must remember! Astilbe needs sunlight for at least 2-4 hours a day, then it will show all its decorative effect, the inflorescences will be thick and fluffy.

Timing

Five-year-old astilba bushes require seating, dividing the rhizome. This is best done in spring or early fall. Deadlines depend on where you live. In the Middle lane, in the Moscow region, seating begins earlier than in the Urals and in the Siberian region, but later than in the southern regions. Astilbes should be planted in open ground in May, in already warmed ground.

In general, astilbes are unpretentious in terms of disembarkation. If planting material went to gardeners in the summer, it can be safely planted on cool days.

Choosing a suitable location

The place for landing Astilba America should be found in partial shade, if possible, on the north side of the buildings. But with such a condition that within 2-4 hours direct sunlight will fall on the bushes. Constant sunlight will destroy the bushes, and partial shade is the most desirable place for them. Areas with high groundwater will not work, it leads to the charm and strong wetting of the root system.

Astilba grows well in shaded areas with light soil rich in nutrients. Such soil allows the roots to breathe enough, as it is well filled with oxygen.

Need to know! The determining factors in choosing a place for planting astilba America are indicators of humidity in the soil and in the air.

Preparation of soil and planting pit

First, the soil in the place chosen for astilba must be carefully dug up, put into the soil rotted peat, rotted manure.Fertilizers are applied in 2 buckets per 1 square meter. During digging, roots of old weed plants should be removed. After digging the flower bed should be left alone for 2-3 weeks.

After this time, holes should be dug in the prepared place, keeping a certain distance between them:

30 centimeters for undersized astilba species;
50 centimeters for tall varieties.

At the bottom of the pits, it is recommended to fertilize in the amount of matchboxes - bone meal, mineral fertilizers, wood ash. They must be mixed with the soil, and for long-term preservation of soil moisture, a hydrogel is added to the bottom of the hole.

Technology and landing depth

The root system is lowered into the hole, the thin root processes are carefully straightened, then they are covered with soil, tamping it a little so that there is no air space left. The pits are prepared in depth, according to the size of the rhizome.

After planting, a watering trench should be formed for each bush, pour in water; when it is absorbed into the ground, under the bush it is necessary to mulch with crushed peat, sawdust, compost, crushed dried bark. At the same time, you need to leave free, do not fall asleep green sprouts.

How to care for astilba

Proper care will ensure full growth and lush flowering of astilba bushes. Growing young roots come to the surface of the soil. In order for the astilbe to endure the harsh winter well, the roots must be mulched. Late in the autumn, closer to the onset of frost, you need to cover the soil above the roots with needles, sawdust, spruce branches.

Care includes activities that meet the specific needs of the shrub:

Timely and sufficient watering.
Adding the necessary top dressing.
Timely pruning of withering stems.
Mandatory removal of stems with flowers.
Proper preparation of bushes for wintering.

Astilba endures a harsh frosty winter if the bushes are properly covered with mulching. Caring for astilba bushes is not difficult.

Water and fertilize

With the onset of summer heat, it is necessary to water the plant in time - it loves water, but in moderation - so that the root system does not get waterlogged. The lack of water has a detrimental effect on the plant - the foliage withers, the inflorescences become small. Annual top dressing preserves the beauty and freshness of astilba. For dry land, compost or peat must be applied; for wet land, complex additives are applied.

In the spring, the bushes need to be fed with nitrogen fertilizers so that the greens grow more actively. To do this, when loosening the soil under the bushes, a little humus is introduced. In summer, before flowering, potash fertilizer should be applied.Usually, when watering, potassium nitrate is added, a solution is made: 1 tablespoon of nitrate per 5 liters of water, pour in 0.5 liters per 1 bush. Autumn top dressing is important when the plant stops blooming. At this time, phosphorus-potassium mixtures are introduced. Autumn feeding improves the winter hardiness of the root system.

Attention! Before fertilizing, the ground around the bushes should be watered abundantly. This is not done if it has already rained.

Loosening the soil

Astilba bushes prefer soft, loose quality loam for active growth. Rains in spring and summer compact the loam, this prevents the root system from breathing, impairs the development of the whole plant. The air permeability of the soil increases loosening, it is recommended to carry out it 2-3 times a season. Loosening is carried out no deeper than 10 centimeters. Along with loosening, mulching is carried out, keeping the soil moist.

Cutting

Flower growers are sure: perennials need pruning after flowering. The stems with flowers are carefully cut, then, closer to winter, the remaining fading stems are cut, leaving the root system for mulching and warming. Snow will add a thermal cushion, protect the roots from frost. By spring, the root system will give young, strong shoots.

Preparing a flower for the winter period

The mild climate of the southern latitudes with abundant snow makes it possible not to cover the astilba bushes America. In preparation for wintering, bushes need autumn feeding, pruning of withered stems, and mulching. It is recommended to cut the stems almost to the root, then spud the roots, cover with a layer of mulch - from 5 to 20 centimeters, depending on the climatic zone.

How to propagate bushes

You can plant a bush without digging it out of the ground: slightly free the root system from the soil, separate its processes, cover the place where the sprouts were cut with ash, fresh soil.This is how new seedlings are obtained without damaging the astilba bush. Seedlings separated in this way give flowering next year.

When such a division of the bush is carried out in early autumn, it rejuvenates the main plant. In winter, the root system is hard, almost woody, and this method of dividing the bush becomes impossible.

Main problems in growing astilba America

The process of growing perennial astilba in the open field is simple, which attracts gardeners. The main thing is to choose the right place for the plant.

The location of the bushes should have optimal lighting, sparse shade, direct sun access for several hours a day. Another important requirement for the proper cultivation of astilba is sufficient water. A change in humidity adversely affects the appearance of the plant: the development of the root system is delayed, the leaves fall, and the decorative effect is lost.In this case, you have to properly water the plant, re-mulch, provide external spraying with water.